Patience

Posted under The Rectory Bulletin


For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

I think it is fair to say that in our age of instant gratification, the wells of patience have begun to dry up. The things we want can be bought on easy terms, with payments over two years. Food can be microwaved from freezer to plate in minutes. Put your foot down, and you’ll cover a mile in less than a minute.

Against all of this, the opening verses of Psalm 62 stand as a witness to a deeper age. “My soul waits in silence”.

“Waits”. “Silence”. Patience.

We would be mistaken if we were to think that life in Ancient Israel was more idyllic than ours. Bands of bandits roamed the countryside, and neighbouring nations were waiting to pounce. A failed harvest meant death, and life was brutal. Parents regularly buried their children, and old age was the preserve of few.

So how did they obtain this silent, waiting patience? King David carries on, and gives us the reasons for his hope. From God alone comes salvation, he alone is his rock and salvation and he is a fortress. David’s hope is in something concrete, and a power greater than the other nations. David shall not be “greatly shaken” because he has a sure foundation.

And so David can wait in silence. He is confident and unconcerned. The greater our trust in God, the deeper the peace we experience.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art; Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night, Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light. - If we place all our hope, trust and value in God we will never be disappointed.

The Canaanite Woman

But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:25–28) - Peter may have been called to walk on water, but it was this unnamed woman who had the great faith.

  1. Blog
  2. The Rectory Bulletin
  3. 2020
  4. August
  5. Patience